NuPhy Field75 Review: A Steampunk-Style Mechanical Keyboard With More Than Just Looks

I’ve reviewed many of the best keyboards on the market, and that’s part of the reason it’s rare that I’m truly amazed by a keyboard that crosses my desk. With that being said, the NuPhy Field75 has been a part of my setup for the better part of the last month, and it’s just as much of an art piece as it is a premium mechanical keyboard. Somehow, it balances both form and function well.

To enjoy the Field75, you’ll need to enjoy the steampunk art style and be willing to pay a premium for top mechanical keyboard features. If you check both boxes, the NuPhy Field75 might be right for you. I can say that no other keyboard I’ve tried is as unique as the Field75, and it could be the thing that sets your desk setup apart from the rest.

About this review: NuPhy provided a Field75 keyboard for the purposes of this review. The company had no input in this article, and did not see its contents before publishing.

Unique design

NuPhy Field75

This keyboard could tie your gaming setup together

$130 $160 Save $30

The NuPhy Field75 is a mechanical keyboard with a unique design language and impressive features. It has a striking aesthetic that will be loved by gamers who enjoy steampunk-style games. It’s also incredibly customizable, with hot-swappable switches and four switch options at checkout. There’s full RGB, customizable buttons, and support for four connections at once.

Pros

• It’s a breeze to type on, and form doesn’t sacrifice function
• RGB lighting, programmable keys, and hot-swappable switches make for easy customization
• NuPhy includes one of each switch type, plus a keycap puller in the box

Cons

• The design isn’t for everyone
• While it technically supports macOS, the experience isn’t great
• It requires a lot of force to remove the key switches

Pricing, specs, and availability

NuPhy sells the Field75 mechanical keyboard in four colorways: Electro, Ethereal, Noether, and Gravity. They all feature unique designs that use multiple colors, and I reviewed the Ethereal version. You can also pick from four switch types, which are Polaris (linear), Fleeting Gold (tactile), Cherry Speed Silver (linear), and Cherry Ergo Clear (tactile). However, some switch types are exclusive to certain colorways. The NuPhy Field75 can be purchased from the company’s website for as low as $130 during a sale at the time of writing. It’s also available on Amazon for a more-expensive $170 retail price.

What I like

Love it or hate it, the NuPhy Field75’s design has character

Whenever a company goes with a niche design like the one found on the NuPhy Field75, it’s a risk. By going with something flashy, specialized, and detailed, you’re limiting who might be interested in your product. Still, I’m thrilled that NuPhy tried something different with the Field75. The worst tech trend is that everything is starting to look the same, and this keyboard breaks that mold and adds much-needed character — whether you love or hate the design. This has the personality of a custom-built mechanical keyboard while it’s being made available as a pre-built one.

The more you look at this keyboard, the more you’ll notice about it. At first glance, you’ll see that the PBT keycaps feature a white, orange, and gray color scheme that just pops. There are also design elements that feel like they’re just for show, but actually serve neat purposes. For example, that metal scroll wheel built into the top left corner of the keyboard adjusts the volume of your computer. A smaller knob on the face of the keyboard changes the keyboard’s connectivity method, and you have the choice between using a wired connection, a 2.4GHz USB receiver, or Bluetooth.

I’m sure there are a ton of different games and art styles that the NuPhy Field75 could be emulating, but the color scheme, input methods, and angular design all made me think of steampunk. Put simply, the only other mechanical keyboard we’ve reviewed that comes close to matching this level of character is the 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard.

Related

Not sure which switch type you like? Try them all

Again, it’s not every day that a company does something I haven’t seen before. But that’s precisely what NuPhy did by including four spare key switches in the box with the Field75. You get one of each key switch type, and you can test each one to figure out which you like best. Since this keyboard features hot-swappable switches, all you need is the included keycap and key switch puller to change the switches. If you end up liking a different switch more, you can buy a set of those and completely change your typing experience for cheap.

There are four switch types offered on the Field75: Polaris (linear), Fleeting Gold (tactile), Cherry Speed Silver (linear), and Cherry Ergo Clear (tactile). I tried the Polaris switches, and the typing experience was solid on these linear mechanisms. I did notice that the keys sounded pretty loud for a linear switch, but lacked the clicky or tactile feedback you’d get from other switch types. If you’re a fan of linear switches, you’ll probably like the Field75 with the Polaris switches — as long as you’re fine with a louder-than-usual typing experience. I’d go with a tactile or clicky switch myself, though.

Related

Lofree Flow wireless keyboard review: A premium, hot-swappable mechanical solution

The Lofree Flow is a wireless keyboard with hot-swappable switches and great build quality, but a few flaws might be hard to get over

This is where the NuPhy Field75 proves it has more than just looks. Nearly all pre-built, premium mechanical keyboards these days have hot-swappable switches. By supporting this feature on the Field75, NuPhy is justifying the price of this keyboard and opening up the door for easy customization down the road.

What I don’t like

This keyboard’s best features only work with Windows PCs

NuPhy says that the Field75 will work with Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS — but that really isn’t the case. The keyboard’s best features require Windows, and specifically the NuPhy Console app. There are eight unassigned buttons that can be mapped to whatever you like, but only on Windows. The keycaps also only feature Windows labels, although the right keys do work with macOS.

It’s not a problem that the Field75 only supports Windows. However, after using this keyboard on both Windows and Mac, I’d really only recommend it for the former. While some keyboards, like the Lofree Block 98, are made to work on both operating systems fully, the Field75 isn’t one of them.

Related

Lofree Block 98 review: The retro-inspired mechanical keyboard that made typing fun again

Lofree made a mechanical keyboard that’ll remind you of the ones from the 1980s, and it’s more than just an art piece.

Should you buy the NuPhy Field75?

You should buy the NuPhy Field75 if:

• You like the steampunk aesthetic of this mechanical keyboard
• You’re willing to pay extra for programmable buttons, hot-swappable switches, and other premium features
• You want to primarily use this keyboard with a Windows PC or laptop

You should NOT buy the NuPhy Field75 if:

• You don’t think you could type on a keyboard this flashy
• You would do fine with a cheaper, more limited mechanical keyboard
• You need to use this keyboard with more devices, like Macs or Android phones

Under the hood, the NuPhy Field75 keeps pace with the best mechanical keyboard technologies and features that exist today. It has great sound dampening, hot-swappable switches, and PBT keycaps. Throw in knobs and programmable buttons, multiple connectivity options, and RGB lighting, and the Field75 is incredibly well-rounded in terms of feature set.

The make-or-break part of the NuPhy Field75 will be its design. I love the character of this keyboard and the unique design NuPhy went with, but I also can’t see this being a part of my desk setup permanently. If you like the design of the Field75, I can assure you that you won’t be disappointed by anything else.

Unique design

NuPhy Field75

This keyboard could tie your gaming setup together

$130 $160 Save $30

This keyboard has it all. From an interesting design to great mechanical keyboard specs, the NuPhy Field75 is a well-rounded option. You just have to like the aesthetic for it to be worth the price.